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Regarding Seattle RE:
Rumors have it that a large RIF (layoff) is in the works for the folks in the Windows division. Tons of employees under H-1 are being brought over from China and India. I am suddenly seeing a lot of familiar faces and mannerisms that I don't want to see. For sure, these people are paid like sxxt.
Why does anyone think Seattle RE will hold?
My favorite area in Capitol Hill is getting whackily expensive. A couple of days ago, I saw a 3/2 house for sale in the 1-2 million range.
Why does anyone think Seattle RE will hold?
Why do you care, the only effect on you will be a reduction in the amount you have to pay your household staff. Plus they are only getting the peons out, a mindbendly talented individual such as yourself will have no problem continuing your climb up Bill's back, pretty soon you should encounter the dark star, don't worry, press on forward, ahhh yeah, then you will have your head firmly up Bill's posterior.
Hey, can you forward me a key for office 2003?
I cannot give you the key for office 2003. It's against the company policy, illegal, immoral, and against my self interest. People should pay for software licenses.
Well, why waste your time on office 2003? The new office 2007 is so cool that you'll love it. Trust me.
People should pay for software licenses.
I have to agree. Consumer software is actually quite cheap for what you get.
Well, actually I know some wealthy people who carry FAKE bags just to be cute.
A woman friend of mine who is from a billionaire family carries a few fake LV items, not because she cannot afford it, just because she thinks it is a cute way to laugh at the world. Her response is, everybody knows how much my family is worth, even if I wear fake diamonds, people will assume it is real. She once walked into a local LV store with fake LV bag where she was known celebrity in the circle, guess what, no sales gal in the LV shop dared to utter anything because she also shops a few genuine items there.
Another very successful businessman friend of my dad wears a fake Patek Philippe watch, and he goes around telling all his acquaintances that it is fake. The reason he does that because he is widely known for his wealth, so he doesn't mind going cheap on stuff since his prestige is not really attached to any of these items. His motto is, as long as I have lots of dough in my pocket, whatever I wear has to be real.
PP,
Indeed. Also for businesses, the amount of money they spend on software is miniscure compared with the actual salary that they have to pay out. Well, not even salary, just take the medical benefits.
Yeah. I remember when the original dbase was $999. I pirated warez left and right as a teenager. It was wrong, and I knew it, but the expense was so great that I did it anyway.
As soon as software became avaialble for $99, though, I stopped. I mean, you can get the basic version of MS office with a new Dell for like $149 or thereabouts. Why would anyone pirate it when the real thing is so cheap?
Another very successful businessman friend of my dad wears a fake Patek Philippe watch, and he goes around telling all his acquaintances that it is fake.
You really really really have to meet Mr. Right, he, like you, is a pompous jackass that likes to drop names, I believe he lives in SLO. Look him up you can spoon, perhaps he might even have a ___________ for you to molest.
People should pay for software licenses.
Why pay for marginal MS bloatware?
Why do you care, the only effect on you will be a reduction in the amount you have to pay your household staff.
You forget that GC just lost his shirt in gold derivatives... ;-)
As soon as software became avaialble for $99, though, I stopped. I mean, you can get the basic version of MS office with a new Dell for like $149 or thereabouts. Why would anyone pirate it when the real thing is so cheap?
Absolutely.
Why pay for marginal MS bloatware?
Why use it?
Wow, you must make more money that Ha Ha, I sure bet he is envious. Amazing that you find the time to post your pearls of wisdom here; shouldn't you be out reformulating strategy with Bill? Hey while visiting his house you should consider giving him an upper tanker.
Joe,
Did you make a lot of money from your adventure? If so, that is quite an adventure. Of course, no near as dangerous as bootlegging liquor.
You forget that GC just lost his shirt in gold derivatives…
Ahh yes, but it was a fake Hermes, as he is so rich any shirt he wears has to be the real deal, pitty those poor saps that now have his fake Hermes shirt.
surfer-x,
I am janitor at MSFT. But they pay good benefits. I like my job.
GC-
What adventure? I can't recall having an adventure or making a lot of money. I would have liked to have done either one.
Of course, no near as dangerous as bootlegging liquor.
you sir are in the wrong field, I think any major university would give you a full professorship judging from the wide ranging topics you are expert in. Stunning. I feel blessed, and not by that heathen Jeebus, but Shiva, the one true god. How did you get to be such a renaissance man? I imagine the universities you hold degrees from reads like a who's who in education. Hurry and write more as I hang on every syllable.
I have to defend MS software. It does make a lot of things more convenient and easy to use. A lot of Open Source affectionados and advocates are resentful bunch of people.
I heard a story that at an open source conference, most attendees whipped out their laptops running Windows, Powerpoint, and Outlook. That was 4-5 years ago.
Things might have changed a little bit. As the open source guys have been furiously playing a catch-up game. But we shall see. Vista is awesome, so is Office 2007. The delay is troublesome. But things will eventually work out.
PP, I do see why a lot of shops prefer Linux-based solutions for their servers and backend apps. But I believe things will change to MS' favor.
In the server space, Linux has essentially been taking market shares from traditional Unix. The market share for Windows servers has steadily grown.
Let us just keep a fair and cool mind. Don't get too emotional on religious wars.
Joe,
I thought you said you pirated DBASE when it was selling for $999. So I presumed that you made a lot of money from that. It's OK. I am not representing the company. I am just a poorly paid desk jockey.
If I mis-understood you, I apologize.
I have to defend MS software. It does make a lot of things more convenient and easy to use. A lot of Open Source affectionados and advocates are resentful bunch of people.
I like MS because I am a big fan of Bill Gates (not because of his wealth). I am under the impression that he is a generous person.
I don't like conspicuous consumption, or over consumption in general. I think it it tacky, wasteful and hard on the enviornment. I also think that by over consuming, you are indirectly taking from people who don't have enough, by pushing up the price.
I know this attitude is pretty rare and might even be considered un-American.
"Live Simply That Other's May Simply Live"
But on the other hand, if I am going to by a new bookcase, I see nothing wrong with buying a heirloom quality one, like a Stickley or Micheals or even an antique.
This is one of the main things that my wife and I fight about. She is constantly buying crap she finds at garage sales and on Craig's list and I am constantly having to get rid of it. At least she doesn't buy new crap.
I also find lots of good furniture just sitting on the sidewalk. I have a great old turn of the century desk that I found on the sidewalk. Tiger oak, dovetail joints, really solid and someone just threw it out. It needs to be refinished but still...
In the server space, Linux has essentially been taking market shares from traditional Unix. The market share for Windows servers has steadily grown.
One only needs to watch the seminal Simpson's episode "Das Bus" to understand the Microsoft business model.
Be a Dear and explain to us Microsoft’s pricing strategy on back orifice. I am especially interested in reductions offered if the client whips out a copy of RedHat. Someone as profoundly intelligent as yourself should never confuse ruthless business practices with good product. Mosey on over to slashdot and look up what happens when the Microsoft salesman comes calling and you utter "open source".
I respect Gates and he is giving his money away, but his pitbull Ballmer I can do with out.
I respect Gates and he is giving his money away, but his pitbull Ballmer I can do with out.
No comment.
SQT Says:
> What exactly is the criteria for a McMansion?
I've always wanted to know if there is a difference between a "McMansion" and a "TractMansion"
Whenever I think "McMansion" or "TractMansion" I always picture the Belcourt neighborhood in Newport Beach (where an old girlfriend's parents lived):
surfer-x,
You are being rude and callous. I want you to take a deep breath behave properly.
I don't know what you are talking about w.r.t. Simpsons. I don't watch TV.
Regarding the pricing and sales practices by MS, can you point me to the actual links? I do not read slashdot and is incapable of navigating through the myriad of opinions.
GC-
Oh, no, I made a copy of the $999 dBase for myself. I didn't sell copies to anyone, I wouldn't have done that.
FAB,
I'm not sure I'd call $5M McAnything. It takes some real wealth to afford that, even with the most exotic NAAVLP loan you can imagine.
Of course, for $5M I'd just assume have some horses and land between me and the greater fool.
MSFT, ORCL, and earlier dBase, FoxPro, Paradox, Clipper and all the rest of them used to practically encourage developers to "pirate" their stuff (at least illegally develop for clients whether or not they bought an appropriate developers license or joined their developers networks, etc.). The thinking, which proved right, was that proliferation of their technology would yield greater licenses from the companies that hired all these ISVs and lone guns. Compare that to the likes of ParcPlace, DigiTalk or the various great Apple development platforms which took steps to prevent unauthorized development. Who remembers Argos now? But you can still find friggin Foxpro jobs on CL.
The thing is, it really is a McMansion -- look at it, it looks just like a $150k KB McMansion in Texas, albeit a well-built one.
Newport Beach is a mighty nice neighborhood, though. I'd sure love to live there, too, even if the houses look like that.
So maybe it's the difference between an InandOutMansion and an McMansion. Still fast food, but much higher quality.
I want you to take a deep breath behave properly.
Wow one comment about smooth skin and a person is branded a pedi......
You are being rude and callous.
From the likes of you, I consider this an honor. Godbless you tiny tim.
Jimbo,
I also like very old furniture. They are very well made (of good, solid wood). One can see excellent craftsmanship and attention to details. The furniture made these days, I mean ones in the mid range, are cheap and exhibit shoddy workmanship. The low-end stuff, you know what you are getting. The high-end stuff, you know you get excellent quality. The mid-range stuff offers the least value and is there for one purpose only: To rip off the suckers.
But you know, you can go to Asia and buy well-made furniture for a fraction of the price you would pay in US.
But if you are rich, you can get top-grade things anyway.
X,
I'm keeping a watchful eye, against my [probably not] better judgement.
So maybe it’s the difference between an InandOutMansion and an McMansion. Still fast food, but much higher quality.
I may lose all "food" credibility over this but I prefer McDonald to In and Out.
So maybe it’s the difference between an InandOutMansion and an McMansion. Still fast food, but much higher quality.
I must admit that this is a great line, even though Randy H had personal gripes against me.
I don’t like In and Out french fries, so I guess I lose credibility with you.
Huh? I do not like their french fries either.
I much rather have a Fillet-O-Fish.
I prefer McDonald’s french fries.
Same here. But I do not eat much fries.
you’re not alone, I also prefer Fillet-O-Fish to In and Out.
That is what I usually eat there after breakfast time.
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Readers of the FT will be familiar with the (newly expanded) Lex Column. Today's featured an interesting little bit on US housebuilders, and its relation to the US housing market.
The column goes on to mention:
Toll is considered a bellwether indicator. Why? Because it markets upscale homes to a sophisticated clientele. Sentiment has grown so negative on Toll that their recent guidance further cutting earnings forecasts actually triggered a relief rally. The market capitalization of Toll is less than the value of all its land and inventory.
Or is it? The problem is that the only potential buyers for construction projects in-progress are other builders, who are similarly depressed for the same reasons. This kind of "vicious circle" is hard to break and usually causes an overshooting of reasonable valuation.
But before you jump in to buy undervalued REITs or homebuilder stocks, keep in mind that this may just be the beginning. The entire sector is trading at about 5.5 times ever shrinking earnings estimates. But (and this is a big but), direct costs are skyrocketing, general inflation is increasing, rates are rising, and industry consolidation is probably nowhere near done. Lex's conclusion: it will be increasingly difficult for these builders to defend returns as capital costs soar. Result, more downside probably left.
Why on earth do we even care? We're sure to hear from at least one Troll that "New Home Starts" don't matter, or that homebuilders aren't relevant, or that "sales of existing homes" is the only game in town. My answer: perhaps, this time, everything is different and we've entered a great new economic paradigm where leading indicators no longer lead. Or, the correction is well underway.
--Randy H
#housing